Wearing A Wizard Cloak (And Other Goals for 2018)

If there’s two things I love in life, they are lists and lists within lists.

I have my love life in order, you know I do.

And as is common for this time of year, it’s time to talk about goals!I admit I actually really struggle to write goals because pressure. It’s like having someone look over your shoulder all the time…except it’s you looking over your own shoulder and that’s creepy for multiple reasons. But I digress! As I usually do!

But before I dive into my 2018 * goals, let’s do a quick recap of last year’s list. So basically this post is listastic and I’ll show myself out for being so badly punny.

* Why is it so weird typing that?! Does anyone else start a new year and go “HOLY HECK IT’S WEIRD TYPING THIS NEW DATE” for the next 11 months??? No? Just me? Ok.

READ 200 BOOKS. ✓I actually read 251 because I am an OVERACHIEVER and no one is surprised.

RE-READ 10 BOOKS. ✓ I’m so proud but I actually did this!! I reread 22 books!

REACH 40,000 FOLLOWERS ON #BOOKSTAGRAM. ✗ Ok well I do believe my original words were “LET ME DREAM” so I did dream. Then I fell over. But I’m at 36,000!

DO COLLAB POSTS WITH OTHER BLOGGERS.✓ I did this! I actually did it!! I collabed with genre predictions and then with Mish and Daley.

WRITE 2 BOOKS AND EDIT 2 BOOKS.✓ This is so adorable at least 5 of us are laughing very hard into our popcorn right now. I actually wrote the most I’ve ever written in my life. I got down 1 MILLION WORDS, 7 drafts and 3 rewrites. Not to mention copy-editing my book A THOUSAND PERFECT NOTES which you will get to eat in exactly. 6. more. months. AHHH. Also I broke my laptop keyboard. Twice. Also I’m very tired.

WRITE A SEQUEL.✓ I ended up writing 3!

GET SERIOUS ABOUT WRITING ADULT FANTASY. ✗ Okay so funny story…I was trying and then I realised my tone and style is just far too YA. So I’m just going to cry in this awkward corner because I’m too bloody for YA and too smol for adult.

GET NEW PRODUCTS INTO MY ETSY STORE. ✗ LMAO I DIDN’T EVEN TRY.

START A READING JOURNAL. ✗ I did but then, predictably it died about 3 months later. I ended up just keeping track of new book releases and my instagram challenges in it.

UPGRADE MY IPOD.✓ Oh I remember putting this on the list because I knew I was about to buy one 3 days later. Cait. You’re so fantastic and hopeless. I like ticking lists, ok.

UPGRADE MY BRAIN. ✗I mean…I wrote 1 million words. But I’m not sure if that’s an upgrade or a down??? I HAVEN’T SLEPT IN 7 MONTHS.

CONTINUE QUEENSHIP. ✓ Heckin’ yes My book is about to infiltrate all your houses.

BE A DRAGON BUT NOT BURN DOWN THE CONTINENTS MAYBE. ✗ No I failed. I’m sorry if I ate you. This was perhaps one of my most anxious/depressed years.

7 achieved out of 14 isn’t…too…bad????

Haha haha. Oh dear.

READ 200 BOOKS. I am nothing if not PREDICTABLE. Also, true story: I’m doing a lot of editing lately and less reading so I reeeally want to not overachieve this. Reading has been stressing me out a bit so: Cait. Calm down.

DO EDITS ON MY 2019 NOVEL.Which you will someday read holy heck. My second novel honestly has my heart and I cannot frikkin wait to announce it.

WRITE A BOOK SLOWLY (AKA NOT IN 3 DAYS). This is actually a huge challenge okay!! I’m not sure if I can do it!! I write fast because I have 13% of an attention span and when I get into hyperfocus I’d rather just stay there. But it’s also really exhausting. So can I pretend to be mortal? Who can know.

WRITE SOMETHING THAT SCARES ME. And by “scare” I don’t mean horror and blood (haha I can do that already), I mean write some risky things and some #ownvoices narratives for autism and mental illness. I want to write things that could be amazing if I don’t scuttle anxiously away.

INCREASE MY RUNNING ROUTE TO 6 OR 7KMS. I currently do 5kms every day and it kills me but you always wanted a ghost blogger didn’t you? haha hah. I’m so punny.

REVIVE MY ETSY STORE. Ah unrealistic expectations I see.

REACH 20K ON TWITTER & 45K ON INSTAGRAM. This is actually hilarious but I can dream.

NOT BREAK EVERYTHING I TOUCH. I literally break…so…many things. My headphones. My power cords. My laptop (TWICE THIS YEAR FROM TYPING 1 MILLION WORDS). My sanity. My shoes. If I break a mirror next, I want someone to come and pet me gently because I am not okay.

MAYBE PLAY PIANO AGAIN. I miss playing! I haven’t practised properly in 3 years but I could start up again?!?

WEAR MY NEW CLOAK. And rule darkly or something. I do have one. Be feared.

Honestly I think the take away from this is my #1 goal of the year is to SLOW DOWN which is hilarious. Most people want to achieve things for their goals and I need to chill out ah haha hahha. Anyway I do not plan to read my socks off this year so if you want to beat me –> this is your chance.

what are your 2018 goals??! how many books are you planning to read? do we have any similar goals???

Good luck with your goals! You did amazingly well last year and I can’t imagine you’ll do anything less in 2018.

I have goals in similar areas to some of yours (reading, writing, running) just on a smaller level! I’m currently doing the couch to 5K programme, and hoping to get to 10K by the end of the year – I completed a couple last year with run/walk intervals, but I’m hoping to get a little faster this year! I’m focusing on backlist titles for my reading goal of 100 books too – that and finishing series!

In terms of writing, this is the first year I’m trying to get serious with it (I’ve done NaNoWriMo a few times but have yet to finish a project…) so I don’t have a specific word count goal but I’m aiming to join in with the Beautiful People meme to keep me focused.

Good luck with your aim to slow down and also not breaking things – certainly not a goal I’ve seen on anyone else’s list so far!

Omg 10K running would be AMAZING and I would completely and utterly die.😂 I do run before breakfast though so I kind of wonder if I might have more energy if I ate FIRST? I might do some research.😂 But go us with our backlist conquering of this year. *hi fives* We got this. The new shiny books shall not defeat us.

I also really hope you finish a project this year. It’s SUCH a good feeling!!

I know right?!😂 I need to really slow down a bit this year. And I totally understand not knowing what goals to pick!! My brain dies whenever it’s January and I need to pick goals.😂 (I hope the jetlag fades soon though!)

You…… read 250 books last year??? In addition to writing like what, 10 books (if I remember that correctly)???? Excuse me, but who even are you?????????

But I really like that you set yourself a goal to REREAD books! That is definitely something that I want to do more in 2018 as well—even though I have an endless pile of backlist titles that I should probably read first ha hAha. Ha. I only ever reread Shatter Me aka MY FAVOURITE SERIES EVER DJSJDJFHSJSJ *dies* but I should really start rereading some of my other favs aka the LEGEND TRILOGY which I haven’t read since 2015 and I miss it but I’m also not ready for the heartbreak and ohmgifodh…okay, I’m calm.

Anyway, good luck with reaching all of your goals, I‘m pretty sure you can easily do it because you‘re literally OUT OF THIS WORLD.

I’M MAYBE A DRAGON. Or a little wild, who can tell.😂 But yes rereading NEEDS to be a big goal so I get a lot of it done. What can I say, I love ticking off boxes.😂 And my memory is so bad that rereading is basically like reading a whole new book anyway. Also I want to reread all the Shatter Me books BECAUSE RESTORE ME IS COMING AND WHO’S FREAKING OUT A BIT AHHHHHHHH.

Yeah you’re DEFINITELY A DRAGON. And omg same I literally can’t remember what the books I read two weeks ago were about and now I can’t write my reviews because… I don’t remember anything?? So I’ll just be like HEY YEAH THIS BOOK WAS GREAT I DON’T ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THE CHARACTERS’ NAMES ARE OR WHERE IT’S SET BUT IT’S GOOD?? I THINK?? bYe I’m the worst.

AND OHMYGODUJSF YOU DON’T EVEN UNDERSTAND HOW EXCITED I AM FOR RESTORE ME COME OUT LIKE I CAN’T BELIEVE WE’RE GETTING AN ENTIRE NEW TRILOGY?????? WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE THIS.

SEE I SAID I DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO CHILL OUT.😂 I actually get most of my writing ideas while doing physical exercise so that’s a great perk😂 And I JUST got the cloak for Christmas so I literally can’t wear it because it’s so freaking hot.😂 But sooooooon. Hopefully it’ll make my writing more epic.

Good luck with your goals!! Ahh, I’m so, SO excited for your book!! And yes… I know how stressful it can be, so my best advice is just to ENJOY it, you know? And sometimes it doesn’t hurt to unplug from social media if the stress becomes too much. 🙂 … Also have I mentioned how excited I am for your book(s)!? Haha.

Honestly, one of my goals this year is to read MORE. I struggled last year because I wrote so much, but this year I’d love to get back to reading fiction (and non-fiction — nerdy, but I LOVE books on astronomy/mythology/fairy tales.)

That, and I somehow need to find the courage to query properly this year, even though I find the whole process terrifying/exciting.

And…okay, I am so in awe of your running, because I would love to do more of it. I used to do a lot of exercise/running/hiking! But now only some, because there are so many hills where I live…and I’m lazy. Haha.

*squishes you* Honestly your excitement makes me freak out with happiness. 💖💖 I know ARCs are going out soon so I’ll probably end up never going onto Goodreads again lmao (DYING INSIDE) but definitely will take time off from online if I get too panicked. 😂

I hope you do get to read a ton this year!! I think it’s hard but so necessary for us writers to balance the writing + reading, right?! I’m editing right now and struggling sooo much to find writing time.😂

Hills are horrible hahaha. I only have one bad hill on my current route and I am so lazy that I really appreciate that.😂

My official Goodreads Challenge is 24, I’d like to read 40 books though, I just start small and work my way up every time it looks like I’m going to beat my goal, it’s much more encouraging to see the little thing on Goodreads say you’re 3 books ahead of schedule than like twenty behind ha ha! I also want to finish a novel this year, but I’m just going for one instead of 4 and rewrites because I would never have time for that plus 3rd year of Uni and all the essay work I have to do! I also want to read more backlist titles & reread more, though I might not go for 30 books since that would be most of my year’s reading. I’m also wanting to look into agents and prep my MS for querying perhaps for next year (scary as!) so if you have any tips on that, it would be much appreciated!

If you are not comfortable writing ‘adult’ stuff, then please don’t. YA is so much more accessible.
Cloaks are awesome. I have a friend that wears one.
My 2018 goals are to research for, and write a new novel. I have a ten book series of whimsical adventures, and now I want to write a ghost story about the real-life haunted facility that I work. {Seasonally, for now.} Rip out and re-model my kitchen.

Wow, that’s a lot of goals!! I wish you good luck with them, you can do it :D. I didn’t set myself that many goals for this year, because in the past it made me feel too pressured to have so many goals (and I wasn’t able to accomplish all those goals #perfectionist). That said, I do love ticking off lists and such, so I often do make little to-do lists rather than year-long goals. So for 2018 I don’t really have any set goals (there is stuff in the back of my mind though, but I think it’d be too pressuring if I wrote too much of it down). Last year I also had several reading slumps, so I can’t really predict where my reading is going.

Honestly you are the smart one here.😂I find goals REALLY exhausting most of the time, but at the same time I like a list to work towards haha. I’m thinking one year I’ll do monthly goals instead?! See how that goes. And I hope you have a really good reading year with zero slumps!!

Well… my goals seem very poor compared to yours. My 2018 (yes, it’s totally weird typing this new date) goals are reading AT LEAST 52 books and about writing… haha, if I don’t procastinate, I wanna finish my two projects, plz, if the universe wants to and my characters don’t kill my outline and I die. And, actually, it’ll be a challenge to me not stressing about A Thousand Perfect Notes, I mean, I’m a bookworm, I STRESSED ABOUT EVERYTHING. I love rereading everything, too — It’s my favorite thing in the world. I might not be able to write a million words in a year for a while until I change my laptop, which I have to revive every five minutes… Honestly, I believe you can reach 20k+ on twitter and 45k+ on instagram. life is too short and people must make good choices. Oh, I’d like to play piano! I’m learning to play the guitar right now, and my fingers are fighting against me, but I’m alright.

Also, fun fact, this is my first time commenting here, I’m sorry if I didn’t before but I’m afraid to people most of the time. My best wishes for your 2k18!

Awww, thank you! *eats cake* And yes, all of my characters are badass, but instead of fighting the dark side of the force, they fight me. Honestly, sometimes I don’t understand the world.
I won’t be scared! 🙂 And thank you for the cake <3

I’m amused that you are going to try and write a book at the snail pace the rest of us mortals go at. :’)
Please don’t break a mirror, that’s like seven years bad luck…and may release spirits. I don’t know.
I’m hoping to read 75 books, finish my first draft and start editing it, and be more organised (Ha. Ha ha. Ha.)
Good luck in 2018!

I know right?! I’m going to see what the mortal life is like down here with all you humans. *descends from lofty peaks with snacks to share* ALSO….agreed about the mirror.😂 Actually my nephew broke a mirror when he was like 6 months old and he just turned 7 this year so we’re all joking that he’s finally broke his bad luck spell.😂

I HOPE YOU HAVE GREAT SUCCESS WITH YOUR GOALS TOO!! Although being organised is haaard.

YOU HAVE A CLOAK ALKJSDLFKJDSL;JDFL;KSDKJF;LDSJ F. I actually shouldn’t be quite that excited about it because I also have a cloak, but . . . CLOAK. MYSTERIOUS AWESOMENESS. ALKSDJFLSDKJFLKDS.

Anyway. I’m interested to see how the write-a-book-slowly thing goes for you. And the rest of your goals, of course, but as someone who’s in awe of your usual speed and knows she couldn’t write that way, ’twill be something to see how you adapt to the new method. Best of luck with that and all your goals!

WE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE EXCITED WE HAVE CLOAKS AND ARE LIVING OUR BEST LIVES. Also they’re excellent for snuggling up in like a nefarious burrito and I’m so happy. Will rule the world after finished being safely cocooned in my cloak.

Honestly that IS going to be my hardest goal.😂 I outline so thoroughly though so like I’m hoping that helps? I tend to honestly forget my book if I write slow BUT I got so tired last year (every draft I wrote last year happened in 4 days or less) so I want to try something new.😂 Tbh I probably will go back to my normal speedy methods afterwards haha.

EXACTLY. Though the cloaks I own are more sneaky-cloaks (one’s a Mistcloak!) so they’re not quite as good for snuggling in.

Outlining helps, yeah. Though if you’re writing slowly, there are advantages to less outline because it becomes a kind of journey of discovery, at least in my opinion. Others think differently. But who knows? You might find you enjoy a slower pace!

Oh, and I forgot to say this earlier, but if you don’t feel like you can write or don’t like writing Adult, don’t write Adult. YA has a pretty broad appeal spectrum. Also, I noticed something you said in another comment, and, well, if you want to write YA but you want to write about characters in their twenties or even beyond that, go for it. I’d honestly like to see more YA that isn’t just about teens. It gives a new perspective.

The problem is I used to write slower with no outlines and I found it REALLY stressful.😂 But it was years ago?! And I feel like maybe a super detailed outline + writing a less than 30K a day (haha shh) might help with how tired I get? Or at least make my 1st drafts not so horrendously messy. But if it doesn’t work I’m not fussed! Everyone has different writing methods and we just have to find out what works for us right?!

I do like reading a lot of adult fantasy though!! I find it has way better world building than YA, but…haha…no my tone is too young.😂 But have you read A Darker Shade of Magic? I felt it read like YA but the characters were in their early 20s. I really liked that! It’s just nearly a bit more realistic to read about 20 year olds destroying/saving the world than 16 year olds.😂

I LOVE YOUR BOOK COLLECTION I JUST WANNA CRY 😭 No one can beat you Cait. I’m just aiming small now because expecting too much hurts (hahahahaha whatever). Anyway, I’m aiming to read maybe more than 30 books this year. Compared to your 250, I feel so lame but I have school and plans for world domination so yeah schedule’s tight. But summer break is pretty long so I know I’m going to read mooore this year. Wish me luck.

I also wanna buy more books. I mostly read ebooks because I’m in a very secluded part in the world. THERE ARE NO BOOKSTORES HERE CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? So I mostly buy books online and pay for a shipping fee. For a non-working student, you can imagine my struggle to save up money to buy books. I ALSO WANT TO PUT UP A BLOG THIS YEAR. That’s in uppercase because that’s my biggest goal this year (apart from getting the top spot in class hahaha I’m dying).

So yeah, more reading and writing this year. Gotta go. My basic calculus homework is waiting for me (major cause of death).

Noo it’s not lame at all!! You have school! I don’t so it’s totally different. *sends you cake* And omg I hear you with the bookstore pain. I’ve only got a used bookstore in my tiny town and no library and I’m pretty much broken in my soul. Do you use bookdepository.com? I’m not sure what country you’re in, but they do free shipping most places!! It’s SO handy and if I have money to buy books (rarely tbh😂) I go with them haha.

A cloak has to be the perfect attire to rule the world and also to slow down ‘n chill because, heck, if you already have a cloak why not make it as comfy as possible and snuggle up with it all the time. I’m pretty sure that last item already guarantees your success for 2018. (Sidenote: if you want to get rid of the 2018-typing-awkwardnes just start putting the date on everything and/or start an accounting job.)
Personally, I kinda dislike making goals for the new year because I enjoy to just randomly implement “wow, I should really change that about myself”-changes whenever I realize how badly I’m doing about … stuff … but I do 10000% agree with “break less stuff” (there are a lot of glass things in my house and I’m pretty sure glass despises being held by me so much that it commits suicide whenever I touch it).

Damn, you run 5k everyday ? Okay that is not the first thing am supposed to ask about in a book blog write?
So Cait, where do you even find time to read 250 books, write a million words, be on social media, do a 35k bookstagram and also run? You are definitely an inspiration 🙂 Great job!

Ah hahahaha. 😂 I know it’s surprising actually because mostly we bookworms are supposed to hiss at sunlight right?! But to be fair I don’t sleep and I go for a pre-dawn run.😂 SO YEAH THAT’S HOW I FIT IT IN.

“Not break everything I touch” I think that should be one of my 2018 goals too 😂 I’m the sort of person who falls UP stairs as well as down them 😂
I want to start playing the piano again too, after being a lazy slob… I mean… “Taking a break” from it for a few months.
My main goal for 2018 is to work really hard on my writing! I have a tendency to procrastinate things, but I really want to start getting serious about my current writing project 😊 My goal is to finish the first draft by this summer (but I’m a pretty slow writer so we’ll see…)
Good luck with your goals, I hope you manage to accomplish them all! 😆

You did GREAT with your goals! I mean, for the ones you didn’t reach, you were thiiiiiis close. And I totally get the reading journal thing–I CANNOT, for the life of me, maintain any sort of journal/planner/scheduler. I end up murdering them within a couple of months. I JUST CAN’T TAKE THAT KIND OF COMMITMENT.

SO EXCITED FOR YOUR NOVELS LIKE SDFGHJKL JUST GET THEM OUT ALREADY, PLEASE. THEY NEED MY LOVE. <3 <3

(And, holy heck, I actually do have a cloak I got from a performance I had to do in December last year!!!!!! We should totes wear them together.)

AIMEEEEE IT’S SO GOOD TO SEE (well, virtually😂) YOU AGAIN HOW ARE YOU!! And also I’m really glad we both have our lives in order and have cloaks. This is the way to live. :’)

And omg anyone who journals actually has magical powers. It’s so freaking hard.😂 And then of course I whine that I never remember what happens and yet I STILL don’t journal. My life. What even. And eeeep I’m so happy that you’re excited about my books thAT MAKES MY DAY. <3

Good luck on all of your goals! I hope to write more this year, and also to read 150 books. (We’ll see how that goes, considering I’m currently still stuck on The Game Of Thrones series.) Good luck on your writing as well. (Another goal of mine is to work on my own writing. You’re certainly an inspiration for that!)

Aww thanks, Cat! And good luck to you too!! Game of Thrones is SUCH a mammoth undertaking haha, so I totally hear you. I actually listened to them on audio which took freaking forever, but at least I didn’t break my hands trying to read them?!

I put 50 down as my reading goal this year. I’d like to do more, but I also have a LOT of writing and life goals that take higher priority. THAT SAID, one of my writing goals will likely involve a lot of reading, so…

Also, I decided to track my books this year like you do. Made myself a google form to fill out for each book. I’m at two books already (both sneeze books though). Almost done with a third (this one has actually weight).

I may have dropped my jaw, cause this list is fantastic! Goodness, you did so, so much!

Also I can’t wait for June!!!!!!! And Please come on a book tour and visit South Carolina. YALLfest???? Maybe????

I’m trying to run 218 miles for 2018, clever??? IDK. It’s hard. I have to run 4 miles a week, which I haven’t even started because it’s just too cold right now. *hides in shame* Also, yeah, you’re doing km, and I’m too lazy to translate my English measurements into your cool ones.

I have a green cloak! But my dragon ran away 🙁 I think I’ll adopt a Faun intead cause they can brew good tea.

Aww thank you!😂I did have a wildly busy year haha. And DUDE I love your running goals! And running is really hard in the cold.😂 I do a 5:30am wake up so it’s summer right now and that’s easy but winter?!? *hides under blankets*

Hi Cait,
Happy New Year! I have a million goals for myself but feel super scatterbrained lately, so I’m going month by month, My reading goals are fairly simple because I work too hard and have a family. lol. I’m trying to read 60 books this year- at least 36 from my to be read bookshelf (and the pile on the floor) and 12 to complete the Keyword Reading Challenge. My other goals in January are
– to invite someone over to hang out at least once a week (I love to socialize, my husband- not so much).
– Be consistent about housework (which I despise with a passion.)
-Not eat out at all. (Health and financial goal all in 1)
-Lose 5 pounds
– Spend intentional time with God daily
In addition, I’d like to return to a challenge that got me to start my blog in the first place. I’d like to send at least 1 piece of personal snail mail (letter, card, postcard, package) per day. Ideally, I would love to receive that much mail too but that’s kind of beyond my control. Let me know if you’d like a letter or something 🙂
You should totally start playing piano again. It will be a good thing to slow you down. Play at first just for the fun of it. If you want to push yourself beyond that later, go for it- but it will be a good reminder of why you liked it in the first place.

I feel really scatter-brained lately too so I’m with you there!😂 And month-by-month goals sounds like a really good idea! BEST OF LUCK. (And I hope you get some breaks/downtime too this year!)

Aww the mail is such a cool idea! And I love all your goals too (being consistent with housework is a hard one haha). And YES I miss piano a lot and it’s kind of just a satisfying and creative thing to do with no pressures?! I should really keep going!

OMG, no we don’t have similar goals. i am old and tired and my goal of reading 90 books for the year is the most MAX i can manage, along with keeping up my blog. i do, however, as you, have an instagram account and adore putting together bookstagrams (rosepointpub). probably spend too much time at it instead and reading and reviewing. that and taking care of my hubby, dog, and house. i’m maxxed out. all the best to you tho, that is an AWESOME goal list!

Best of luck on the slowing down, Cait! I am actually part turtle and perhaps I could give you lessons. But holy bagumba, 1 MILLION WORLDS how is that even legal??? I am equal parts impressed and concerned. Your poor keyboard, my friend, have some consideration. Congratulations again on your book!!! It is so bogglingly exciting. And pianos are wonderful, I hope you realise your goal of starting to play again! (Be careful with the keyboard though.)
I am skittish of goals. Goals=PRESSURE. YES. Also creepy self looking over shoulder. Hard to handle. My thoughts exactly.
Mostly my 2018 goals involve not doing death but that may be unrealistic. I never plan the number of books I want to read. I just read the books that I want to read when I want to read them, which works out rather nicely. Rereads are fantastic! I am all for rereading favorites. I love it when a book fails to disappoint, no matter how many times you read it. They just get more and more amazing.
My main goal is that I want to write more. I want to write a book in one year which is practically light speed for me. I also want to keep my blog alive, which, taking into account the type of parent I am, is of questionable feasibility. But hey, we are allowed to dream.
Also my reading comprehension failed for a minute and I was trying to figure out what you meant by not reading your socks. WHO READS THEIR SOCKS TELL ME MORE. But then I regained control of my faculties and I understood the expression.

I definitely need to find my inner turtle.😂 And maybe take a nap ah hahaha. I know right!? I didn’t intend to write the million but I just kept going and I ended up having a lot of time to do so, soooo…I went for it.😂 My laptop hates me.

Also thank you about my book!! And not going to lie, a reason I want to start practising again is because my book is about pianists and I’m sitting here haven’t having played properly in like 3 years.😂

I think not-planning your reading is also cool! Less pressure for sure. AND REREADING IS SO FUN plus, like you said, a great way to know you’re getting a good read. I also hope you manage to write more! This is hilarious…you want to write more and I want to write less. I’ll send you over some of my extra words, right?😂

Nooooo don’t feel bad!! I do read fast and sometimes I read a lot of thin books! Okay but I feel better that we both just did a 50% pass on our goals for last year ah ahhahahah. We can fail together.😂

DUDE YOU PIANO WIZARD! I played like really dedicatedly for about 7 years? And then you know, school finished and I stopped getting lessons and I gradually stopped practising.😂 I want to start again though because music is lovely and really satisfying. <3

I set 15 books as my Goodreads goal. Then I read 4 in the first 4 days of the year. (Oops.) See, in 2016, I made a goal, and then failed miserably by only reading 3 books that whole year. In 2017, I didn’t make any goals… and ended up reading 24 books. So there you go: the best way to get me to read is to not challenge me! (Although, I’ve kind of disproved that point already. Oh, well.)

That’s actually really cool though! I think sometimes the challenges we put on ourselves can really take the fun out of it! Like NaNoWriMo for instance…it was literally the worst book I wrote last year and I didn’t enjoy it at all?! But the other months I wrote, I really had fun! So sometimes a non-challenged environment is actually nice.😂

Write 2 books, I know right? 😀 remembering your blog posts from the entire year, 2 is such an understatement xD I guess you were letting yourself off easy to minimize stress and expectations? xD

Hmm, I think there’s plenty of market for books that have a YA tone but are bloody and dark. It’s just that a lot of them get stored with YA I guess. But they definitely have a reader! So I think you’re fine even without trying to write solely adult or YA xD

I’m going to try to read less ARCs this year too. Or rather, I mean, NEW ARCs. Cause I have that whole ARCs backlog. *runs away*

You know, it might be smart getting an external keyboard that’s like.. ergonomic for a lot of typing xD your wrists might thank you too in the future. And maybe it would break less. Nothing worse than a broken keyboard when you have to write loads.

And ditto on that piano goal. I just wistfully look at the piano from time to time and sigh now.

Ah haha I know! I’ve upped it to write 4 books at least this year so I won’t be horribly overachieving.😂 Although I DO SWEAR I’m going to try and write/read less this year and just try to calmly absorb stuff and maybe sleep. (Pfft okay the last one is a lie haha.)

And it’s true! I think there’s plenty of bloody YA out there so there’s hope for me to write it someday *fingers crossed*

I do so love ARCs but I also want to read books that I choose. And I mean, obviously requesting on Edelweiss/Netgalley doesn’t count here, but Ig et sent a lot of unsolicited ones.😂

I DON’T HAVE A DESK THOUGH. I actually have never had problems with my wrists! Just my laptops can’t keep up.

We should both yell at each other until we sit down and practise the piano for a bit.😂 It’s hard to stay motivated though without like lessons? When I was in school I practised SO much because I had lessons always looming terrifyingly around the corner haha.

Good luck with your goals!
I’m also going to try to read 200 books… I should possibly have set my goal lower, but I also should totally be able to achieve it, I’ll just stress more about it. Lovely.
I’m also hoping to blog more consistently… I kept randomly disappearing this year, and I want to stop doing that…

You’re gonna do awesome, Cait. Eat a cake for each of those you get down. But save me a piece of eachhhh please 😮 (A girl can dream).

I’d tell you my goals, but they’re top secret 🤐

P.S. – Completely unrelated, but would you like to appear in a post in which I make highly accurate (probably not) profiles of bloggers and authors using a magic-program-that-shall-not-be-named-until-it’s-named and bits of writing???

Good luck with your goals! I really want to try to write and finish a full novel this year because whenever I tried to in the past I didn’t get very far before giving up but that’s because I tend to just wing it, haha, I should be more organised 😅 And I would put reading backlist titles on my resolution list, but I already do that so I guess I’ve already achieved that one 😂

Ah, I’m cheering for you about achieving these goals!!! 7 out of 14 is not half bad!!!!

I think one thing I’ll take from your list is writing more #ownvoices stuff. I think it’s scary (and so, you’re incredibly inspiring to be setting this as a goal!) but also I think it’s quite exciting too.

Also, of course I want to get my hands on your book next year. We can pre-order yes? I can’t wait! I think it’s the first 2018-published book I’m going to be purchasing!

It’s just a 50% success rate right?! I’LL BE FINE.😂 And aww thank you! I think it is really scary to write personal stuff because rejection/critiques are still really hard to take? But worth it when it turns out right. <3 And ajfdkslad thank you so much for wanting to read my book that means the world to me! It's up for preorder on amazon and Book Depository! (Free shipping on the later, which is lovely!)

AHHH I’M SO HAPPY YOU’RE EXCITED THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME. <3 And haha I mean I don't really recommend writing a million words in a year but I did have fun with a lot of it. :') Between being far too exhausted. And yay that we both have slowing-downish goals! Good luck for college too. 😀

Your goals are awesome 🙂 You make me seem like an unambitious potato, under-achievers all the way, WOO! Even though I’m not a big YA fan, I’m looking forward to this book of yours, is it possible for you to record some piano pieces to go with your book release? After all, it would be great book promotion and it would be a great excuse to practise the piano, just saying ^_^ If you can’t keep up with your reading journal, that’s okay, don’t worry about it. it’s better than not using it at all. Remember to take breaks and stuff (you know what breaks are, right?). Self-care is super important 🙂

Nooo you are not an unambitious potato!! I’m just way too over ambitious ah haha (although trying NOT to be). 😂 And omg I WISH I could play piano on level with my book but I am like a spilled bucket of rice and my piano playing is horrendous.😂 Especially classical because I do a lot of unintentional improve. But I kind of want to maybe play something and put it on the blog someday?!? So it’s a good idea! haha!

See, this is why you have weirdly jointed fingers. Your knuckles are trying to escape. I’ve read a lot of goals posts over the last few days and my goodness, your goals are WRITE FOURTY BOOKS, REACH A BILLION FOLLOWERS AND MAKE A CLOAK RANGE FOR MY ETSY! Meanwhile I’m over here thinking about my goals, stop.getting so many crumbs on my.laptop, they’re making the keys crunchy, think about taking photos for instagram apart from slapping books on my dining table and try to reach as close to 3000 on Twitter (I have 2600 at the moment so I’d better get witty quick smart).

Make sure you take time for yourself and be kind to yourself. Allow yourself a sleep in or skip a day of running, eat junk, throw out that terrible book rather than finish it, take long baths, watch lots of movies, rest your weary head. You do so much for the community smushy that it’s time you starting putting yourself first as well. Don’t make me come up there.

MY KNUCKLES ARE TRYING TO ESCAPE. OMGGGGG KELLY YOU MAKE ME LAUGH SO MUCH I NEARLY FELL OFF MY BED. (Which isn’t that scary because it’s on the ground because I couldn’t fit a bed frame + my bookshelf into my room. So. You know…priorities.) Anyway I digress. I think (?? unsure) I have no chill. I may try to find it this year or I might just write another million words and scream a lot. (JOKING. I do not plan to write that much this year.)

I hope you get tons of followers this year because you are a hysterical delight. <3

HOW TO BE PRODUCTIVE LIKE YOU? Srsly, Cait. Just reading this makes me want to push harder, which is my overarching theme for 2018, so thank you! Also? YOUR BOOK IS COMING OUT REALLYYYY SOON ARE YOU FREAKING OUT YET?!! Please don’t forget about me when you’re touring (read: ruling) the world! But goals. Right. I plan to read 52 books this year, one title a week. (C’mon, you can tell me that’s adorable. That’s totally fine.) And I intend to be more productive, too, in all the little and grand ways. Here’s to us achieving all the things this 2018, Cait, cheeeeeeeers!

I’M ALWAYS FREAKING OUT, IT’S LIKE MY CONSTANT STATE I CAN’T EEN. 6 months to go…*screams into the void* But best of luck to you for your goals!! 52 is a great amount of books! Honestly I’m struggling to actually keep up my reading + edit right now so don’t look at me. It’s like a week into the new year and I’m drowning.😂

I mean my reading goal this year is 100, and I’m hoping I can reach it, I also have plans to reread the Shadowhunter books…and I’m juggling my blog, college and what remains of my social life as well. I don’t know where I think I’m going to find time for all this haha. However, you should probably slow down with the typing, the keyboard doesn’t wish to be broken again does it? Good luck with your goals 🙂

Omg I have plans to reread Shadowhunters too!! I know there’s a lot of them but I freaking miss all my favourite characters. <3 Plus I want to reread TMI to remember the days when Cassandra Clare was nICE TO HER READERS. *sobs because of Lord of Shadows*

i never make resolutions, because I always forget them. XD but IF i had made any this year, they would have something to do with being a dragon riding ninja with a lightsaber and super powers- ok I’ll stop.
that or figure out how to marry a fictional character. 🙂
Most crazily, ~Olive

Totally feel your pain about “too bloody for YA, too smol for adult.” When I first started publishing books, people immediately called them YA because of my age (dude, I was 18 when I released my first book, I was a BABY), but I was like, “No! There are bodies! And murder! And bloody crime scenes! And everyone is much older than moi!” But no one listened, so I tried to write ADULT books, but if you want people to see your an adult writer overnight, it’s basically write an erotic romance novel and hello, asexual to the max. (totally tried it though, and while I’d like every copy of that book to cease existing, I haven’t been called a YA writer since… also haven’t written anything since, so don’t try this at home, kids)

I feel your easiest goal to achieve for the year is going to be wearing that wizard cloak of yours like errday errday. My goal for 2018 is to finish off my TBR pile still lingering around from 2017 (ha! lofty goals) and to write a book. Just one. If three magically happen, I’ll take it, but as it’s been years since I’ve written a book (or anything really), I feel like one is a hopefully achievable goal and if not, I’ll take up skydiving. (seems the least terrifying of the two, tbh) What’s the worst that could happen?

Agh that would be frustrating. I also don’t like it how people see a book with a young narrator and say “oh YA.” But like hello 90% of the Game of Thrones cast is under 16 for the first books?!?! BLOOD AND GUTS COUNT HERE TOO. *Cries* Anyway I think my tone really is too young to pull of adult but maaaybe one day.😂Or I’ll just keep writing really bloody YA and having my editor’s first notes back be: “Cait you need to chill.”
😂😂

And I want to wear my wizard cloak everyday but it’s summer Britt. Am I supposed to suffer for dark magic???? Probably.

Ooh, that is a good TBR goal and I totally am rooting for you because I coul dnever do that hahha.😂 Ahem. Skydiving seems fun. NOTHING COULD GO WRONG.

You have so many exciting things ahead, Cait! I still can’t believe you’re going to be published! Such an amazing achievement! I’m sure it will be wonderful! Good luck with all your goals! Thanks for being such an important part of the writing and reading community! May this year be a shiny bright one 🙂

Okay but Cait I’m super proud of you. And I almost beat you last year with 240 books ( I almost said this year and the dates thing confuses me too. You are not alone believe me no one is alone whoops I’m singing into the woods now) I think your goals are great. I’d love to hear about how your process changes when you write more slowly. I want to edit two books and write two books… which will probably not happen but we’ll see. If I do one of each I’ll still be really proud of myself.and I want to do a 10 k race, running and generally run faster because I wake up at six am to go running five times a week but I’m still slow and lazy lol. I’m so glad you discovered rereading. I remember you mentioning in the past that you had too much to read to reread and that made me sad. I want to read 120 books a month idk what I’ll manage with uni though…. And one if your goals should be to read SABRIEL. It’s a backlist title andth audiobook us excellent.

Dates are just SO HARD through all of january. I give up and just pretend to live in a world without time. Ahem. Annnyway, omg you read so much that’s amazing!! And you were epically busy so you totally win. 😉 And hey best of luck with the editing/writing! I think it’s fun to make some goals a little challenging. Like I do know I’ll write 4 books probably without a worry BUT writing (at least one of them) slow will be ridiculously weird. I’m not even sure if ti’ll work.

Ooh 10K would be amazing! I kind of wonder what it’d be like to do a race?! I mean, I can’t where I live but I wonder how fast/slow I run compared to other people.😂

And YES. I’m so glad I’m into rereading now. Like I just ignore the TBR if I want to and reread some favourites. <3

I deliberately haven’t set any writing goals this year because 2017 was my worst mental health year, ever. I mean EVER. And by the end of it I could barely write a paragraph, let alone a book. I even failed NaNo, which usually brings out my ultra-competitive side. So I’m just going to build myself back up slowly and see what happens, and if I manage to finish revisions on one of my WIPs in the process I’ll be delighted. Reading goals – wow, I wish I could read 200 in a year! I read fast, but it’s getting the time. Adulting is so overrated. So I’ve gone for 85 which is challenging but achievable because at this point I need to feel like I’m accomplishing something. There’s a few sub-goals like clearing more backlist books (ha!) reading more than I buy (hahahahaha!) and reading more different genres and non-western settings (ha… oh, wait, I might actually be able to manage that one). And I’d like to keep my blog running a bit more reliably too. So yeah – for slowing down and not putting so much pressure on myself that’s still quite a lot, isn’t it? *Goes and cries quietly in a corner*

*sends warm crumpets* I’m so so sorry to hear that but I do understand. I had a horrible mental health year ever, although I used writing as an escape so I was actually super productive. But I felt like crap. So I reeally understand. And I hope 2018 treats you better. Go slow, for sure!! And reward yourself! You’re doing great with whatever you can do. <3

Adulting is overrated.😂

And hey aiming for a slower and more stable year is a HUGE and amazing goal! You go for it!

Thank you for the crumpets, they are definitely appreciated! I know slow and stable is a good thing in itself, but I’m used to aiming high. It feels like I’m giving up. Ugh. But I usually use writing as an escape too, and this was the first time it completely collapsed around me, so obviously I need to change something.

Slowing down and breathing and taking a break every once in a while is good, but… it doesn’t seem to be in your vocabulary, so… I mean look at how much you write and read and HOWWW. I wish you the best 🙂

“Write a book slowly” hahaha. You know, Cait, other people’s goals are to write a book FAST??? 😂😂 Anyways, GOOD LUCK with all your writing goals!! Sounds like so much work but I’m sure you’ll accomplish it all. 🎉🎉

And aahhh same with writing things that scare me!! I really want to write a book with a Thai character like me, but in order for me to execute the rep the way I want to, I feel like I’d have to write a contemporary, and I suck at those. 😂

Great list and fantastic new cloak! Also, congratulations on the upcoming book! I’m so excited to read it.
I think my biggest 2018 goal is to get 1500 views in one month. I’m still a pretty small blogger, but I’d like to start working my way up. Obviously I won’t be matching your 20K on Twitter anytime soon, but we’re both looking to get more viewers so it’s kind of the same, right?

That’s a really awesome goal and I’m definitely rooting for you with the pageviews!! And hey we all have to build up from somewhere. When I first started blogging, I think I had like 5 followers for years. 😂😂 *shares cake with you*

You did pretty great with your 2017 goals, Cait, really, I am impressed. Like, HOW DO YOU READ SO MUCH?? It’s so great. And HOW DO YOU WRITE SO MUCH?? It takes me ages to just write one single draft, I wish I had your talent to write really really quick haha, my process is painfully slow. IF you have magical powers, please share some of them? 😛
I NEED TO KNOW ALL about your next novels releases, Cait. I already can’t wait for A Thousand Perfect Notes, I am sure the next one will sound as incredible as that first one. I hope you’ll share more news in 2018, I feel like this year is going to be SO exciting for you. I hope you’ll write all the words and read all the books – but don’t forget to take care of yourself! <3 Sending you all the love! <3

I’M NOT EVEN SURE, MARIE, I THINK I QUIT SLEEPING. 😂😂 But hey my really fast writing is not necessarily really good writing, so it probably all evens out.😂 And yes! I’ll definitely be announcing news about my 2019 book soon (I’m about to start edits on it and ajfdkslad so excited). You’re so lovely and encouraging, THANK YOU. 💖 💖 💖

So I’ve been away from the blogosphere for the past eight months, so excuse me while I squeal over old news. Can’t believe you wrote 1,000,000 words!!!! And you’re also publishing your own novel!!!! Is it weird to feel excited and proud for someone you don’t even know?
I’ve been following your blog for a while, and of course I knew about your talent for writing and being witty and hilarious, but I’m so excited I am finally gonna be able to read one of those fantastic novels you always talk about. And, more importantly, shove it on everyone’s faces so they read as well!
You go, girl! I’m sure 2018 is going to be a huuuuge year for you! <3

The amount of times that I have typed saying we’re in 2017 already doesn’t bode well for the next few months where I’m going to have to keep scribbling the dates out in my notebook haha. I’m 19 now, I feel so old. Why are the years going this quickly? I always remember old people talking about how fast time goes but THE EXISTENTIAL CRISIS IS ALREADY HITTING ME. I’m not happy with it, let me tell you.

Okay so I need to know how many books you have. I thought I was doing well with the 400 odd I have, and yet I have no where near enough to do photos like yours with your beautifully organised bookcase – I have like twenty blues covered books, that’s it, Anyway, reading 200 books this year doesn’t even seem like it should be a challenge for you, I’ve been following you for years and if you’re good at anything, it’s devouring books. I’ve literally read like 30 this year. That’s it. Pathetic, I know.

Also, you’ll easily smash those social media goals. I have like 1k on Instagram. What is your secret please and thank youuuu. And ohmygoodness yes your novel!! I bet you’re so excited!! And also slightly nervous probably, but it’s going to go so well and I know everyone’s going to love it.

I know this is kinda late now, but here’s to a wonderful 2018! If I get 2k followers on Insta I will be laughing.

The years always go fast when it’s nearly one’s birthday. *howls* I’M NEVER READY.😂 But yes! Constantly in pain trying to remember what year it is. I get the hang of it around November and that’s…just…so bad.😂

I think I have about 600 books? I haven’t read them all haha. But actually reading 200 is going to be a bit of a challenge for me because editing is already consuming my MIND and I usually chow through books super fast but this year so far? Nope.😂

(ALSO THANK YOU FOR BEING EXCITED ABOUT MY BOOK!! I hope you like it but dooon’t even worry if you don’t.😂)

I’m so excited for your book coming out soon!!! It’s really inspiring for me to see you blog so passionately about books (and read as many as 251 books in one year… that’s amazing 😂). And if you have time, play the piano! I’m not the best musician out there, but I love how relaxing music can be and it’s such a nice break from life and writing and everything else because reading sheet music is so different than reading words. Anyways, good luck with all of your 2018 goals and your new book! 😋

Oh Cait, your goals are so inspiring and productive and mine are like “stay alive” and “whatever the hell we want”. Which, incidentally, are both quotes from my favorite things ever, The Hunger Games and The 100. I cannot WAIT to hear about your 2019 book, EEP! It’s so exciting- I don’t know how you can even like, sleep ever waiting for it. It’s not my book and I am giddy for you haha.

I DO want to write more this year though, that is one thing I need to get working on. Especially if/when things in life calm down a little, maybe I will have more time to so such. Fingers crossed! As for how many books I want to read…. ugh. I mean, ideally I’d love to read as many as you! But my small humans won’t allow it, so I have to settle for the amount of a mere mortal. Random chose 94 as my goal, but I mean, I had better read more than that! But hopefully it’ll be lower pressure?

Duuude, your goals are amazing too. 😂 I mean, I was going to go “be less anxious!” but lmao unrealistic expectations here.😂 I CAN’T WAIT TO TELL YOU ABOUT MY 2019 BOOK MY HEART IS ACTUALLY SO FULL WITH THIS BOOK I JUST WILL SHOUT A BIT.

And I hope you get to write a bit more this year!! I know it’s hard to focus sometimes when the world is being a trashfire, but it’s also a handy escape a bit too? Anyway you do have to keep those small humans alive, so cut yourself some slack.😂

I have been wanting to pick the piano back up again (not literally) and play since my college dorm has one in its lobby. It definitely terrifies me, though, and I have to make time to practice again. Playing always calmed me down.

Also, I am always amazed at your goals and I ABSOLUTELY cannot wait to read your book. AND HOW DID I NOT HEAR ABOUT THIS SECOND BOOK DEAL?? Congratulations!

1. Trying to read more #ownvoices and diverse reads in YA. If you have some recs, please tell me!
2. Write at least 2,000 words a month. While you are killing your keyboard twice in a year by writing 1 million words, I sat in a corner and cried about not scheduling in writing time. I’ve already hit my goal for January by forcing myself to write for a few hours one day.
3. I want to try to diversify what I read, meaning adult fiction, nonfiction, and manga, etc. More than just YA books.

You should be very proud that you have a book out! I never reach my writing goals this year I hope to: finish my novel first draft by end of June ( I have a word count goal by month need to figure it all out and find a goal tracker) and finish the many unfinished stories I keep starting. I have my goals for this month. I am also planning to read from my backlist and less ARCs. One day I might factor my blog into all this….. Are you a trained copy-editor? Editing scares me hence the unfinished stories. Or maybe just the rewriting if a first draft.

Ah I don’t have my book out yet haha. 😂 It comes out June 7th with Hachette UK! And no I’m not “trained” at copy editing, if you mean like I’ve done a degree or course? I’m learning on the job (plus my publishing house does the copy editing and formatting of course!).

Best of luck with your writing goals!! I really hope you get there and honestly finishing things is AMAZING and it’s just the beginning of a long journey 😂 but worth it. *sends cake*

Love your goals!
I actually adding rereading books to my goals this year since I tend.. to.. never reread? Even if I love certain books, I just don’t because then all my unread books stare at me with those creepy eyes they secretly have.. :’) Not this year! At the VERY LEAST I want to reread Harry Potter because. Just because.
Backlist books: YES. I have over 150. Physical ones. I need to fix that, somehow.

Goooood luck! And wishing you some stress-free days when it comes to your book, hahah. It’s on my wishlist! 😀